Openings and Closings: Maven Debuts, Leo’s Next Week

MAVEN at Sawyer Yards, 1501 Silver, opens October 18 in Sawyer Yards. It’s an extension of MAVEN Coffee + Cocktails from owners/founders of Rex Hospitality Group, Juan Carlos de Aldecoa, Jimmy Doan and Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. The original concept opened as a mobile beverage cart at Minute Maid Stadium in August 2023 followed by another at Toyota Center. MAVEN opened a coffee shop outpost at the Thompson Houston Hotel this past May. However, the Sawyer Yards concept is a full-service restaurant with all-day dining and an inviting bar.

Nina Quincy, president of Rex Hospitality group says the opening of the fourth outpost in less than 16 months is a testament to the demand for quality-driven, handcrafted food and beverage experiences. “We envision our Sawyer Yards location as a neighborhood destination that lends itself to both daytime and nighttime experiences.”

Located in a former commercial trucking filling station adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, MAVEN’s buildout was designed by SG Design Houston, taking full advantage of its urban location by using some of the elements of the area such as the vintage gas station canopy that overlooks the dog-friendly patio. Though the look is industrial chic, it’s softened with slatted wood paneling and finishes of a marble composite. During the day, there is plenty of natural light while the nighttime ambiance is more moody with a mix of brass and milk glass fixtures setting a more sophisticated tone.

The menu at MAVEN has been designed by Chef Nicolas “Nico” Baizan de Aldecoa whose international expertise and experience in haute cuisine means guests will find culinary delights such as a grouper-forward smoked fish dip, wagyu steak au poivre and deviled eggs topped with Kaluga caviar. The menu has some Spanish touches including a a spicy rigatoni that gets topped with Manchego cheese and octopus with a touch of Spanish paprika and olive oil. As an homage to McCullers’ Cuban heritage, Chef Nico has created a Cubano sandwich for the mid-day menu along with breakfast tacos, avocado toast and a truffle grilled cheese.

Rex Hospitality Group brought in New York-based cocktail expert Paul McGee to help design the drinks program which showcases the brand’s signature cold brew in cocktails like the Espresso Martini, the MAVEN Shakerato and its version of a carajillo, the latest coffee cocktail trend set to eclipse the espresso martini. There are refreshing adult beverages such as a Brazilian caipirinha and a pineapple-infused daiquiri, the Hotel National Special. There is a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails as well.

Leo’s River Oaks, 2009 W. Gray, opens October 22 at 3 p.m. Located next door to the River Oaks Theatre, it comes from Culinary Khancepts, a local hospitality group that operates restaurants such as Liberty Kitchen, State Fare and The Audrey as well as Reel Luxury Cinema and the recently renovated River Oaks Theatre. It is also the sister company to Star Cinema Grill Theater Group.

Leo’s will occupy 5,000 square feet of space in the heart of River Oaks offering a New York-style supper club experience with live music and New American cuisine. Taking its inspiration from the astrological sign of the lion, its design is majestic and vibrant, with Art Deco chandeliers illuminating an elegant interior of bronze-colored curtains, tartan carpets, dark wood and a color palette of emerald green, gold and ivory. There’s a second story balcony for dining as well.

The cuisine at Leo’s will be just as bold and elevated as the decor. With a menu created by Chef Tim Reading, guests will have dining options like the Raw Bar menu with a selection of crudos including Scallops, Vermillion Snapper and Bluefin Tuna plus seafood towers and premium caviar service. There are starters such as Beef Carpaccio and shareables like Bone Marrow Au Gratin and Roasted Pork Belly.

In keeping with its upscale approach, there are prime steaks including a hefty Porterhouse. Entree choices include Bouillabaisse, Lobster Thermidor and Ora King Salmon. The dessert menu has been designed by Pastry Chef Eunice Grassa and offers diners treats such as Vanilla Creme Brulee and a Tarte au Chocolat, made with Jivara chocolate mousse, mango passion gelee, salted caramel ice cream, almond crunch and an edible gold Leo design. 

There is a carefully curated wine list and an array of cocktails with both classic and inventive options ranging from the still-trendy Espresso Martini to its River Oaks Margarita or signature Leo’s Elit made with Stoli Elit, Tanqueray 10 and Lillet Blanc.

P. Terry’s Burger Stand, 9207 FM 723, debuted in Richmond October 16. Originally founded in Austin, Texas in 2005 the family-owned company is finally bringing the brand to the Houston area. Its CEO, Patrick Terry, said in a press release, “We’re beyond excited to bring P. Terry’s to Houston. This city has a rich food culture and we feel honored to be part of it…We’ve felt an outpouring of support from Houstonians already and we can’t wait to share our take on the classic burger experience here.”

That classic burger experience begins with its “better-for-you” menu that features simple burgers made with fresh, never frozen Black Angus beef or all-white chicken breast meat for its chicken version, which can be grilled or crispy. There’s also a veggie burger made with brown rice, cremini mushrooms, black beans and oats that is baked fresh. In addition, there are chicken bites, fries, banana bread and oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies.

The burgers each get P. Terry’s homemade special sauce and customers can dress up the basic burgers with add-ons like bacon, jalapenos, pickles and onions. There is a brief breakfast menu with Egg Burgers and  Breakfast Potatoes plus a selection of hand-spun shakes, lemonade and soft drinks.

Though the menu is not extensive, it seems to be popular as the brand has spread across Texas with the Richmond location making store number 35. According to an email to the Houston Press, the Chicken Bites, which were only added to the menu this past March, have been a resounding success and the company expects to sell more than four million bites by the end of the year.

There are plans for additional Houston area locations in 2025 and 2026.

Portillo’s Hot Dogs, 11005 W. Grand Parkway, will open October 22 in Richmond at 10 a.m. following a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. Michael Portillo, Vice President at Portillo’s, will be on hand along with the restaurant’s current charity partner Mamie George Community Center

Located at The Grand at Aliana, the new quick-service restaurant will feature the brand’s Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-broiled burgers, ribs, salads, French fries, shakes and more. Decked out in a Southwest garage theme, the 7,700 square-foot restaurant offers interior seating for 170 guests with an additional 50 seats on its seasonal outdoor patio. Like its other locations, Portillo’s Richmond will have an efficient double drive-thru and feature its Kitchen 23 design with self-serve beverages and a grab and go retail area.

Portillo’s Hot Dogs began in 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois. Founder Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into his food trailer dubbed “The Dog House” which would eventually turn into a fast-growing chain of more than 85 locations across 10 states.

Afuri Ramen, 1215 N. Durham, opens November 1. First opened in in Tokyo, Japan, in 2003, it expanded to the U.S. with a location in Portland, Oregon in 2016. The Heights location is its first for Texas and CEO Taichi Ishizuki is thrilled to bring the concept to the Bayou City. He says, “We can’t wait to introduce the Heights to the depth and tradition of our cuisine and we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for authentic Japanese flavors.”

The modern restaurant will have an interior dining space of 3,600 square feet plus an outdoor patio. There is a large open-concept kitchen and the decor is contemporary and minimalistic.

The authentic dishes are made with high-quality ingredients and GMO-free products. There is no MSG either. The menu centers around its signature Yuzu Shio ramen, a light broth made from local chicken, dry fish, seaweed and vegetables. There is also Tonkotsu Shio, a broth soup of scallions, kikurage mushrooms, black garlic oil, chasu, pickled ginger, egg, sesame  and thin noodles. Its ZEN ramen is customizable with a variety of meat, toppings and noodle options.

There are other Japanese culinary plates such as Tori Karaage, Tuna Tartare and Hotate Carpaccio, made with scallop, yuzu vinaigrette and orange. There are a couple of Donburi rice dishes as well as dumplings like Buta Crispy Gyoza, For dessert, there’s Basque Cheesecake, a crustless version with a caramelized top.

Houston franchise owner Patrick Sun said in a press release, “Houston has such a diverse group of communities here and we wanted to ensure all can be included in this experience. That’s why our Houston menu features a variety of meat and broth selections and a gluten-free noodle.”

Afuri Ramen will also have a full bar with craft cocktails, sakes and whiskeys.

Ojo de Agua, 7255 Helix Park Avenue, is coming to the Texas Medical Center in 2025. Located in Helix Park, it will be the second location in Houston for the Mexico City-based healthy eating concept. Gitano Capital has signed a lease for the space which is set in a large greenspace with interconnected gardens. Based in Texas, Gitano Capital also opened the first Houston location of Ojo de Agua in the River Oaks district in spring 2023.

It’s the first announced restaurant for the Helix Park development. Gitano Capital partner Rafael Montero says he is looking forward to creating a stylish but approachable retreat for tenants, visitors and patients in the busy Texas Medical Center. “We envision a place for people to gather and get away from it all with an all-day menu of incredibly flavorful food and drinks using the freshest ingredients and served against a chic, bo-ho coastal backdrop with artisan design elements sourced from Mexico.”

The menu at the new location will offer the same authentic blend of Mexican and Mediterranean cuisines such as its acai and pitaya bowls, Swiss Enchiladas, chilaquiles, ceviche, tacos and sandwiches plus dinner dishes like its Cauliflower Mole Octopus and Mahi Mahi a La Talla.

Its beverage program offers a wide selection of juices and smoothies made to order along with cocktails, beer and wine. Ojo de Agua also has a catering program perfect for the surrounding offices and work spaces.

Mico’s Hot Chicken, 2400 N. Shepherd, is shooting to open before the end of the year, according to owner Kimico Frydenlund She told the Houston Press that she will have a more firm answer from the contractor next week. She also told the Press that the new location will be a move from its current Durham spot to better serve guests. The Shepherd space will have indoor seating, a bar and an extended menu.

Kimico, or Mico has she’s more familiarly called, first opened the hot chicken concept as a food truck with husband Christopher Frydenlund. With its long lines and sold-out sandwiches, it eventually expanded to a brick and mortar at 1603 North Durham in March 2020. Now, it seems to have outgrown that space.

Many Houstonians will recognize the Frydenlunds, along with their four adorable children, from the Chase Ink commercials. With an expanded location in the works, they’re a busy Houston couple for sure.

Black Rock Coffee Bar, 22219 FM 529, is beginning its soft opening October 18. It will have a grand opening October 25, with each customer receiving a free 16-ounce drink throughout the day at the new location. The Katy store will be the 20th for the Greater Houston area and the 39th in Texas.

The brand was founded in Portland, Oregon in 2008 and has since expanded to 145 stores across the country. It serves premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and its signature Fuel energy drinks. There are a variety of beverages available hot or iced. There are classic coffees including drip, Americano, cold brew, mocha and latte. There are also drinks like Caramel Truffle, Mexican Mocha, Irish Coffee and the Jackhammer made with vanilla mocha and an extra double shot. There is hot chocolate, Italian soda, hot teas and seasonal lemonade as well. In addition to its Fuel energy drinks, it has its signature Chillers like Mint Chip and Oreo.

There are several alternative milk options plus a selection of locally-made pastries and breakfast items.

HTeaO, 1935 Avenue D, opens October 18 in Katy. The grand opening event will offer free cups of tea from noon to 2 p.m. and the first 250 customers will receive a limited edition HTeaO t-shirt. There will also be happy hour pricing from October 18 through October 20 with half-off cups of tea. In addition, customers can get half-off gallons of tea from October 18 through October 25.

The shop offers more than 20 flavors of sweetened and unsweetened tea plus coffee and premium water. There is a convenient drive-thru as well.

It’s the first HTeaO location for franchisee Jerrod Core and his family.

Big City Wings, 23402 Kingsland Boulevard, opens October 20 in Katy. The sports bar and wings concept, with over a dozen locations across Greater Houston, is owned by local restaurateur Sam Elsaadi. He told the Press in an email that the Kingsland restaurant takes the place of the former Villagio location which he said was “not quite the size and look of what we’re building now.”

The restaurant serves a huge menu of wings, burgers, sandwiches and all the belt-busting appetizers one would expect from a wing joint. There are plenty of beer choices along with a variety of signature cocktails. There’s a kids menu, too, plus tasty ice cream smoothies.

Karbach Brewing has launched its Dunkels & Dragons limited time lager just in time to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Texas Renaissance Festival. And the limited time is truly limited. It is only available from now through mid-December.

The beer was originally brewed for Karbach’s FUN Series which is only available at the brewery itself. For the next couple of months, the German-style Dunkel will be available at major retailers and on tap at the brewery itself.